The European Union announced it does not recognize the results of Venezuela’s election, citing the government’s failure to release voting records from polling stations. Incumbent Nicolás Maduro declared himself the winner of the July 28 election based on results announced by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council. However, the opposition and several countries worldwide have rejected the announced outcome, stating that it does not reflect the voters’ will.

According to the EU, Venezuelan authorities lack evidence to support Maduro’s claim of victory.

“Any attempt to delay the full publication of the official voting records will only cast further doubt on the credibility of the officially published results,” the EU said in a statement.

Furthermore, EU calls for “independent verification of the electoral records, if possible by an internationally reputed entity.”

In a letter signed by the leaders of seven EU countries and in a press release, the EU called on Venezuelan authorities to publish the detailed voting results. The opposition rejected Maduro’s claim, as exit polls showed a decisive lead for challenger Edmundo Gonzalez.

Thousands of protesters gathered in the streets of Caracas, demanding the annulment of the election result. Authorities arrested hundreds of protesters and threatened to jail Gonzalez and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. In the first days after the election, the General Prosecutor of Venezuela announced that a hacker attack from North Macedonia influenced the election process, denied by Macedonian authorities, as reported by CIVIL MEDIA previously.